Featured here is the ancient and coveted rookie card of the legendary goaltender whose name is synonymous with the NHL's award for best goalie in the league. This striking example of the 1911 C55 Imperial Tobacco #38 Georges Vezina issue has been graded EX 5 by PSA. The Imperial Tobacco Company of Canada produced the C55 set, which ranks among the most important of all prewar sports card sets, and the Vezina rookie is by far its premier issue.

The front features a lithographed portrait of a young Vezina in the red Montreal Canadiens sweater with the club's early green maple-leaf "C" crest. He grips his stick with a gloved hand and stands framed within an ornate gold border, with "Georges Vezina" in a gold nameplate at the base. The reverse, headed "Hockey Players," reads "Georges Vezina, Canadiens. Has played with Canadiens 1911, Chicoutimi previously," with the card number "No. 38" at bottom.

Known as the "Chicoutimi Cucumber" for his calm demeanor in goal, Vezina played every game for the Canadiens for more than 15 seasons. He backstopped Montreal to Stanley Cup titles in 1916 and 1924. His career ended tragically in 1925 when he fell ill with tuberculosis, and the NHL soon created the Vezina Trophy in his honor. He was a charter inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.

This example presents with vibrant color and a sharp image. Corner and edge wear is light and consistent with the EX 5 grade, and the reverse is clean and bold. It is housed in an earlier-generation PSA holder (Cert. #14617966). As of this writing, a grand total of 246 Vezina rookies have ever been authenticated by PSA, and only 29 are graded higher.